Tube-cleaner.



Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

T. ANDREWS. TUBE CLEANER M, 7m new APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 18, 1907.

UNITED sTArnsE rENT OFFICE.

THOMAS ANDREWS,OF ROCKAWAY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS ANDREWSMANUFACTURING COMPANY, .OF ROCKAWAY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' TUBE-OLE ANER.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908;-

Application flied March 18, 1907. Serial N 0. 868,092.

new and useful Improvements in Tube- Gleaners, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact specification.-

This invention relates to tube cleaners. The objects of the inventionareto improve and simplify the construction of such devices; furthermore,to increase their efficiency in operation, and to decrease the ex enseattending-their manufacture.

Vit-h the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter ,setforth, 1t being understood that changes in the 'precise embodiment ofinvention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of the followingclaims without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1 I

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this spcific'ationFigure 1IS a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, through a tube cleanerconstructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a transversesection onthe line 22 of F ig'. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section on theline 3-3 ofFig. 1. F i 4 is a section on the line 4- 4of ,Fig. l ig..5is a detail view of a modified means of secur- J ing the cutting disksin position.

Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the, diiferentthe drawings.

The reference numeral 1 indicates a fluid chamber, which may be of anysuitable form :4, which preferablfy -tion and is flared r andconstruction and is adapted to be connected with any suitable source of:fluid supply. Threaded into" or otherwise connected with the fluidchamber 1 as indicated at 2, is a head which is designated generally by3. The head 3 preferably is frusto-conical in shape and is formed withan inner wall is annular in cross secom one'end to 'the other,

and an outer wall 5, whichis parallel to the inner wall 4, and similarlyshaped. The inner and outer walls 4 and 5 are separated from each otherso as to provide a fluid assage 6, which communicates with the aidchamber 1 and receives the from. The had 3 is provided with end bearings7 and 8,,the bearin 8 being at, the inner end of the device, an thebearing through the bearings 7 and 8, is a long, removable bushing '9,which is provided at its inner end with an inte ral flange orthrustreceiving member 10, w 1ch rests against the inner end 11 of thehead and is partially seated in a shallow recess formed in said innerend 11. Theopposite end of the long bushing 9 extends outward beyond thebearing 7 of the head, as indicated at 12, and is provided with a washeror thrust-receiving member 18, which is threaded on to or otherwiseremovably connected with the outer end of the bushing 9. The removablebushing 9 is formed intermediate its ends with one or more perforations9, which communicate witlran oil chamber 9". As shown in the drawing,the bushing 9 forms a ortion of the inner wall of theoil cham er. Oil issupplied to the chamber 9 formed in the head 3 through a supply port-40,which is normally closed by a ball valve 41 pressed outward by aspring 42 against a removable cap 43. The supply port 40 extends outwardthrough the walls 4 and 5 of the head and through thefluid supplypassage 6, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

Extending through the bushing 9 is a shaft 14, which is formed with alongitudinally-extending passage 15,so asto make it hollow. At its innerend the hollow shaft 14 is formed with an integral, thrust-receivingmember 16, which is in contact with the integral thrust-receiving member10 on the inner end of the" bush ,9. At its' outer end the h llow shaft14 is provided with a nut or th st-heceivin member 17, which is threadedon to orb erwise suitably con- 'nected with the shaft 4 so as toremovable therefrom.

It will be noted that when the tube cleaner is being forced intoaboilertltbe' having a heavy scale so that the thrustton the shaft14:.is in an outwarddirectioii; said thrust will be taken ,u by thethrust-receiving members 10 an 16, and. when the tube cleaner is eitherremoved from the boiler tube or else encounters no resistance, soth'atthe fluid passing through the fluid passage 6 andjstrikmg theturbinecausesthe thrust on theshaft'n to be in the opposite direct on,

7 at the outer end thereofiflExtending said thrust is taken upby thethrust-receiving members 13 and 17 as well as by the thrust-receivingportion 12 of the bushing 9, it being understood that thethrust-receiving member, 17, as shown cl'earlyin Fig. l, is adaptedtocontact both with the end portion 12 of the bushing" 9, and with thethrust-receiving member 13. In the event that either the bushing 9 orthe shaft 14, or both, should become worn, these parts can be removedand replaced by taking off the thrust-receiving members 13 and 17, aswill be obvious. Detachably connected in any suitable manner, such as byscrew threads 20 with the inner end shaft 14, so as to cover the same,is a turbine 21having turbine blades 22, as

shown in Fig. 4, around which blades is shrunk a metal band 23. As shownin Fig.

' drawing. v v The turbine 21 preferably 1, the inner .end orthrust-receiving member 16 of the shaft 14 isthreaded into a suitablesocket in the turbine 21.

.For the purpose of causing the 'motive .fiuid from the chamberl'andflaring fluid passage 6 to impinge a ainst the blades 22, a number ofinclined uid pas es 24 are cut through the inner end- 11 of t e. head 3,as shown clearly in Figs. 1-'ahd,. 3 -of the 4 isout oi frictionalcontact with the end 11 of the head 3,-

as indicated at' 25,v for which reason there'will' be no friction or,wear between the turbine 21 and the end 11. during the rotation of theturbine; but on thecontrary, all the friction 2 .or wear will be takenup by the thrust-re ceiving members10, 16, 12, 13, and 17, to;

gether with the shaft 14 and bushing 9, all

of which parts can be readily replaced when Worn, as previouslydescribed.

Pivotally connected in any-suitablemanner with the turbine/21, asindicated at 30,

is a plurality of swinging arms, with each of which swinging arms isconnected a plurality of cutting devices or disks 32, the disks 32 beingsecured on the swinging arms 31 preferably by means of bolts 33,threaded into the arms-31, and being readily removable, so that when theinnermost disks 32 become worn, they can be shifted upon the bolts 33 soas to'bring unworn disks'into position on the inner ends'of said bolts33. In the modified construction. shown in Fig. 5, the bolts 33, arerovided. with nuts 45 to holdthe cutting di sin position.

In tube cleaners as generally constructed, it is customary to rely uponcentrifugal force for throwing the arms31 outwardly to bring the disks32 into cutting position.

It is one of the objects'ofmy invention toprovide fiuid-operate'di meansfor; positively throwing the dISkS/OY'GUHQ devices 32 into position. Fezthe purpose'o providing. such fluid- -operated' means,, the turbine. 21is formed with a chamber 35; which communicafes through-a passage 36with the hollow shaft 14. Slidably mounted in the chamber 35 is a piston37, which is suitably connected by means, such as links 38, with theswin ing arms 31. The turbine 21 is preferab y housed within a tubularextension 40 formed on'the innerend of the head,3.

Whenthe device is in operation, it will be the power should be turned onbefore the" cleaner should be inserted in the boiler tube,

lugs or arms 50 are removably secured to. the walls of theexpansionchamber 35 by screws 51. The arms 50 project into slots 52 cutinto piston 37 so as to limit the end wise movement of the piston, andthus limit the outward movement of arms 31. To aid this result further,the ends 53 of the arms 31 are so shaped as to be parallel with theadjacent portions of the turbine and expansion chamber, so as to contacttherewith; when the arms have moved outward a certain distance. v

In tube cleaners as generally constructed,

avery short bearing is provided for the shaft 14. As practically all thestrain of the rotating'cutting devices falls upon the shaft 14, a shortshaft will become readily worn and will soon wabble in its bearing. Inmy device, on the contrary, I provide a shaft 14 and a bushin 9 whichare of approximatelythe same ength as the distance from the outer faceof the turbine 21 to the innermost cutting disk 32, whereby the shaft 14has a lon strains which fall thereon, and the strength of the tubecleaner is therefore materially increased. 1

The improved device is strong, simple,

bearing to support the lateral durable, and inexpensive in construction,as

well as thoroughly efficient" in operation.

Matter shown and described herein and not specifically claimed'isreserved, being-claimed in copendin application Serial Number 359,947,bearing date of February 28, 1907.

What is claimed is: 1. A- tube cleaner having cleaning devices and ahead, with an oil chamber therein, and

a bushing formingpart of the innerwall of said oil chamber and havingtherein. I 1 I 12. Atube cleaner having a head, a. perforated bushingtherein, a. shaft "in said bushing havingcutters connected therewith,

said head also having therein fluid-supply passages and anyzi' chamber,the latter b61115 interposed betweensaid bushing and sai a perforationthrough said bushing, and cleaning devices receivingmembers' at bothends thereof, a

, chamber.

sa1d oil chamber. andhaving perforations ing a fluid-pressure chambertherein, a fluid- ,for throwing them positively outward.

fluidsupply passages, the inner wall of said head forming a portion ofthe wall of the 3, A tube cleaner having a head, with an oil chambertherein, a bushing forming part of the wall of said oil chamber andhaving a perforation therein, a shaft extending connected with saidsh'aft.

4. A tube cleaner having a head, with any oil chamber therein, a bushingforming a portion ofthe wall of said oil chamber and having aperforation therein, thrust-receiving members connected with the ends ofsaid bushing, a shaft extending through said bushing and havingthrust-receiving members at the ends thereof, and cleaning devicesconnectedyithsaid shaft.

\5. Atube cleanerhaving a head, with a frusto-conical oil chambedtherein, a bushing forming a portion gof the inner wall of intermediatethe ends thereof, thrust-receiving members connected with the ends ofsaid bushing, a shaft extending through said bushing and havingthrust-receiving members .co acting with the thrustreceiving members ofsa1d bushing, a turbine connected with said shaft, cleaning devicesconnected withsaid turbine, and an annular fluid passage extendingaround said oil chamber.

6. tube cleaner having ahead, a-bushing mounted in said head and havingthrustshaft. extendingtlirough the head and havoperated device operatedby the pressure in the pressure chamber of said shaft, and cleanindevices connected ,with saidflnidopera 7 device, substantially asdescribed.

[{A ,tube cleaner having a head, a relative y-long bushing removablymounted in the head and having thrustreeeiving members at both endsthereof, in shaft extendi through the bushing and having a fiu1 my handin the presence of two subscribing pressure passage therein, cleaningdevices connected with said shaft, :1 cylinder coniston in saidcylinder, and means connect mg said piston with said cleaning devices 8.A tube cleaner having a head, abushing mounted in said head and havingthrustreoeiving portions at both ends thereof, a shaft extending throughsaid bushing and having thrust-receiving portions to co-acttherethrough, cleaning with said shaft, a cyllnder connected with saidshaft and communicating with the fluid passage thereof, and a pistonmounted in said cylinder and means connecting said piston with saidcleamng devices for throwing them ositively outward.

9. A tu 'ecleaner havinga. head, a bushing mounted in said head andhaving thrustreceiving members at the ends thereof, one of saidthrust-receiving members having a threaded confine-tion with saidbushing, a

with thethrust-receiv ng portions of the bushing, saidshaft havin afluid. passage evices connected.

shaft extending through said bushing and,

having thrust-receiving members at the ends thereof, one of saidthrust-receiving members having a threaded connection with said shaft, aturbine having a threaded connection with said shaft, and cleaningdevices connected with said turbine.

10. A tube cleaner comprisi a head having anroil chamber and a flui-su'pply passage, a bushing removably mounted in said head and havingperforations therein communicating with said oil chamber, a shaftextendin through said bushing, a turbine detachably pivotally connectedwith said turbine, and having portions thereof in parallelism with theadjacent portions of the turbine to limit the outward movement of saidarms, said turbine havi a-chamber with lugs mount ed on the we lsthereof, a piston slidably mounted in said chamber and having slots toreceive said'lugs, links connecting said connected with said shaft,arms,

piston with said pivotally mounted arms,

and cleaning devices detachably connected with said pivotally mountedarms.'

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set witnesses. v

, I THOMAS ANJDREWS.

Witnesses:

E. BERTRAM Mo'rr,

